Kevin OLLIE Head Coach
2nd Year as HC; 4th year at UConn
In just his second season as the season’s very first game, upsetting head basketball coach at the Uni- 14th-ranked Michigan State, 66-62, versity of Connecticut and only his in the Armed Forces Classic at the fourth year in the profession since Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The retiring from the NBA, Kevin Ollie has season also included victories over already established himself as one of ranked teams Notre Dame and Syrathe rising young coaching stars in cuse, and five wins in overtime, a the college game. school record. Ollie accepted a huge responsiOn Dec. 29, 2012, less than a bility on Sept. 13, dozen games into 2012, when he was his first season as named the 18th head coach, Ol“After 13 years head coach in the lie was awarded a in the NBA, Kevin’s history of UConn new contract that got a PhD in basketmen’s basketball, will run through at replacing legendary least the 2017-18 ball.” Hall of Fame coach season. ~ Hall of Fame Jim Calhoun. Ollie’s UConn Coach Jim Calhoun By the end of history --- which the 2012-13 seabegan in the fall of son, however, it 1991 when he rewas evident that Ollie was more than ported to school as a freshman from ready to meet the challenge. Los Angeles, continued through four With only two seasons of coach- successful seasons, including two as ing experience after joining Calhoun’s a Husky team captain, and resumed staff as an assistant in 2010-2011, when he returned to join Calhoun’s Ollie quickly embraced the opportu- coaching staff following a 13-year nity to lead the storied UConn pro- NBA career --- has come full circle. gram. He may have only served two seaDespite a roster depleted by sons as an assistant on Calhoun’s transfers and early NBA entrants, staff, but possesses a wealth of and a team that was ineligible for basketball knowledge after learning any postseason play due to academ- from some of the finest teachers to ic shortcomings in years long past, ever coach the game, including CalOllie guided the Huskies to a 20-vic- houn, Chuck Daly, Larry Brown, and tory season, a feat no other UConn George Karl. coach had ever accomplished in his “After 13 years in the NBA, Kevfirst year. in’s got a PhD in basketball,” Calhoun The Huskies finished 20-10, ex- said as he passed the torch to his tending UConn’s streak of 20-win former point guard. “He’s a great seasons to three straight, five in the basketball man and an even better last six years, and 14 in the last 16 person. I’m very proud of him.” years, as well as extending its streak The reins to the Huskies could not of winning seasons to 26 in a row. have been handed to anyone who UConn posted a 10-8 mark in the wanted them more than Ollie. difficult Big East Conference. At sea“This is my dream job. I was made son’s end, Ollie’s efforts were recog- for this job,” Ollie said on the day he nized by Collegeinsider.com, which was hired. “UConn is a special, speselected him to receive its Ben Jobe cial place and I wouldn’t want to be National Coach of the Year Award, anywhere else but right here.” given to the top Division I minority Ollie made that same decision coach, who produced excellent re- about UConn more than 20 years sults despite difficult or adverse con- ago, coming out of Crenshaw High ditions. School in Los Angeles. Playing on Ollie raised eyebrows with the some of Calhoun’s finest teams dur-
Season Job Title Overall Big East Record Record 2010-11 Asst. Coach 2011-12 Asst. Coach 2012-13 Head Coach
32-9 20-14 20-10
9-9 8-10 10-8
2013-2014 University of Connecticut Basketball Media Notes December 2, 2013 vs. Florida UConnHuskies.com
Postseason Results
NCAA Champions NCAA 2nd Round